The Boston Public Library, located near the heart of downtown, is one of the most impressive landmarks in the city. Made up of several sections and additions, the Boston Public Library is a colossus that welcomes thousands of residents and tourists alike every day. One section of particularly reputable note is the Johnson Building.
Dating its origins all the way back to the early seventies and taking its name from noted architect Philip Johnson, the building occupies ten levels, including public services, behind-the-scenes library processing and administration, book stacks, and more. The Johnson Building began a massive 130,000-square-foot renovation project, headed by General Contractor Consigli Construction, back in 2013. William Rawn Associates served as architects on the project. Renovations covered the entire first floor and mezzanine, as well as select areas of the second through sixth floors. The focus of the renovations was two-part: recognizing Mr. Johnson’s original vision while also redefining the library patron experience to match this updated space.
Contexture is proud to have provided support on this project alongside Consigli. We provided approximately 25 multi-banded synchronized motorized shades, including wirelessly controlled shades in the Lobby and Reception areas. A pair of Monumental shades from MechoSystems are also included in the Rabb Hall. The Monumental shades are an adaptive shading system, using Mecho’s powerful ElectroShade motors. These shades are a perfect fit for shading large windows, such as what can be found in the Johnson Building. Contexture also provided toilet partitions and restroom accessories among other specialty products.
The two-phase renovations were completed in summer 2016 with a grand ribbon cutting ceremony. Today, the Johnson Building boasts a colorful new Children’s Library; new workspaces and reading areas; revamped community learning center, and more. Be sure to stop by the Johnson Building sometime this summer to check it out! From hotels to hospitals, libraries to other academic institutions, our design experts can help match shades to perfectly fit your commercial space.